“When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world” – Harold Kushner.
Today, on World Kindness Day 2024, we’re reminded of the profound benefits kindness brings. As reported by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, kindness can boost hormones like oxytocin and serotonin, increase energy, reduce stress and anxiety, and lower blood pressure.
Findings from an 80 year study, The Harvard Study of Adult Development, highlighted that the quality of our relationships is a key predictor of our happiness. Therefore, the importance of showing kindness in a world where loneliness and isolation is prevalent is increasingly important.
Listen to the following talk with Robert Waldinger, director of the study to understand more about the its findings, including how relationships impact our physical health, what kind of relationships support our wellbeing and how to maintain ‘social fitness’ to strengthen connections with others.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK) is a nonprofit with a mission of making kindness the norm. Some great resources created by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation include:
- For the classroom: kindness posters e.g. 50 ways to be kind, quotes, activities such as bingo, bookmark, lesson plans, kindness calendars and more!
- For the home: lessons on respect, caring, inclusiveness, responsibility, courage and integrity, colouring pages and more.
- For the workplace: Workplace kindness challenge, assessment, kindness pledge and more.
Every day, acts of kindness leave a lasting impact. Recently, wellbeing resources were generously from one PESA school to another, sparking a ripple of positivity throughout our community – even among those who didn’t directly receive the items. Studies show that just witnessing acts of kindness can uplift and inspire us!
Thank you to the RAK for suggesting 7 ways that we can show kindness on a daily basis. We hope you can #MakeKindnessTheNorm too.
